Barnabas - Bombay's First Private Detective

by Sangeeta Nambiar

British India. The summer of 1942. Bombay. From the leafy lanes of Wodehouse Road, a British woman goes missing from her home. Her husband Thomas Stanton, wants to keep the police out of the loop, and thus calls in Bombay’s first Private Detective, Barnabas Mehta. Barnabas, the son of a cook, has been brought up under the tutelage of his father’s employer, Francis Curtis, and thus knows the ways of the British. But that isn’t enough to solve the mystery for him. His search for Rose leads him to the bylanes of Girgaum where he finds a murder to solve and webs of deceit to traverse. Who would murder Rose so brutally? Family secrets and the machinations of an evil mind – they’re all there for Barnabas Mehta to unveil!

246 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sohini Banerjee]

i have given a 3 star to this book (actually a 3.5) because I found it to be a rather enjoyable read. The first few pages are a slight drab, but then on, the book is fast paced and rather interesting.

However, if you are an Agatha Christie fan or have read enough mystery books till date, then guessing the culprit by the middle of the book, would not be rocket science. Also, I believe that Sangeeta Nambiar was greatly inspired by Christie herself, and her protagonist, Barnabas is largely modeled on Hercule Poirot- not physically, but intellectually and in the manner of making conclusions or even deducing something.

But I am partial to books that can keep the readers' interest vested in it, and Barnabas is such a book- I would definitely recommend it, not for the sheer brilliance of plot or characterization, but because it is racy and entertaining.

Bombay, as it was then known in 1942 also has been described in parts but the sentiments of the freedom fighters have not been illustrated carefully.

[Reshmi Kurup]

As far as the genre goes, the writer has done full justice to the story. A very good blend of situation and twists that keeps the reader hooked up to the book.A must read for every thriller fan. Besides the simple language, its in itself a very good read due to the unique story line.

Other than the thriller sense, the books gives an insight into the other face of British India. Rather than the general negative persona assigned to whites then ruling the country, Barnabas lets us know the better, much more kind and positive face of the Englishmen.

One could relate the various phenomena during the freedom struggle, at local, countryside level which is something less considered while discussing about the British Empire in India. It beautifully describes the life then in British Bombay, attitude of people via the slang of Hindi or English used .One among those books that wont bore you even if you are reading for the tenth time

[Rishi Prakash]

I had picked this book randomly at a book fare after checking the rating on goodreads itself! I started this book with a lower expectation and was pleasantly surprised when it turned out good :-)

Setting her novel in the pre-independence times, roughly around the Quit India Movement, Nambiar has created a character called Barnabas C. Mehta, who, quite obviously, is the lead of her eponymous novel - Barnabas, Bombay's First Private Detective which is also printed on his visiting card and makes a clear case for him! The usage of language is lucid and the author has a strong vocabulary skills too.

This book deserves a sequel. Hope Mr Barnabas resurface with his second case, and his third. Moving closer to the year of independence from here, the turmoil and tension in Bombay would make for an excellent backdrop to his investigative skills. I hope Sangeeta Nambiar picks up from where she has left :-)

[Samyuktha jayaprakash]

A well written set in early 40s Mumbai. Once a twin pops up the ending isn't hard to get. However this is a book more about the travel than the journey. Would love to read more mystery books set in India.

[Rashmi]

Barnabas, Though the name misleads the reader to take it as a British detective in the old British Bombay, the introduction mentions Mr Barnabas C Mehta to be a person more of the British ideology but rooted to Indian mentality by origin.

Unlike any other Thriller or murder mystery novels, this book is one among those thrillers wherein the thoughts of the mystery solving, proofs ,chances, etc keeps hovering in the readers mind ,as to one gets hooked up with the detective for the solution.

This book, thanks to its wonderful language used as well as a beautiful blend of situations and twists at proper time, is indeed a good read. One among those stories, wherein the reader keeps on guessing the possibilities of what could be next.

Other than the thriller sense, the books gives an insight into the other face of British India. Rather than the general negative persona assigned to whites then ruling the country, Barnabas lets us know the better, much more kind and positive face of the Englishmen.
One could relate the various phenomena during the freedom struggle, at local, countryside level which is something less considered while discussing about the British Empire in India. It beautifully describes the life then in British Bombay, attitude of people via the slang of Hindi or English used .

The story revolves around the murder of Madam Rose Stanton, chain of suspecting incidents following her death ,and the various techniques and methods adopted by Barnabas, his tryst with the police and Englishmen. It raises lot of suspects in readers min.Let that be her husband Thomas Stanton, or her beloved Sir Gregory .The devotion and Hard work of Barnabas towards the case without expecting monetary returns inculcates in the reader a good interest towards the case being solved. Usage of poetic Phrases , Indian English, Description of the gallis nd chowkis of old Bombay are all the plus points in the book. These features ultimately makes the reader believe that Barnabas C Mehta existed in the 1940s and was the first private etective of Bombay.

Lines such as " This is my own country ,yet I need to tread with care in it" depicts the thoughts of an Indian Detective who is parsed towards the British Men, and the British culture,Yet lot of nationalism and love inside

The Indian characters such as Barnabas' father, Laxmi, the maid, Kesho , Ardeshir and the freedom fighters all gradually take us to the mindset of Indians fed up by British Rule.

overall a very good read , not if you are expecting an Indian version of Sherlock Holmes, because the book itself has a very different story set up in a very different time of 1940's.

Rating : 3/5
Best recommended. And this is one among those thrillers that wont bore you even if you are on the tenth read.

[Sathya Narayanan]

Amazing read. A perfect detective fiction with twists and turns. No wonder Sangeeta is a film-maker. She makes us relive the era of freedom struggle in 1940's and in the middle tells us a story about how the Bombay's First Private Detective becomes a perfect professional. Sangeeta also gives us an insight about how some Englishmen made India theirs and lived as a English through skin and an Indian from within. The book reveals that they too had feelings for Indians and wanted India to be free from their heart. Sangeeta rightly takes in a lot of details and makes this book a "stick-with-till-the-end" book. Extreme twists at the end make it much more effective. Sangeeta's Barnabas can teach you a lot of vocabulary as well. I don't know how it would have been if it had been a film, but Barnabas as a book is a "Goodread" indeed.

[Swapnil]

It's a good book for a person who is starting his journey in the world suspense novels. It was fun though, to imagine 1940's Bomabay. The characters are etched well. And the relation between Francis Kaka and Barnabas is beautiful.

[Ankul Barar]

It is an amazing book. Thanks to Cupidspeaks.com and Blogadda.comfor sending in this book!

[Archana Tanwar]

although d plot was predictable d narration was gud enough to keep me hooked it d end.